Yet again, the planet has been devastated by a disaster and George Clooney plays an astronomer who’s holed up at an observation station. When he discovers a space ship coming back from Jupiter, he embarks on a perilous trek thru the tundra (with a young girl) to communicate with the astronauts (led by Felicity Jones and David Oyelowo). The narrative alternates between his journey on Earth and the challenges on their ship. Naturally, there are setbacks for both. Director Clooney has staged the film with wonderful visuals and effective performances, but his dedication to the “drama” leaves too many dull quiet moments. If this 2-hour film had been closer to 90 minutes, it could have been a gripping experience. As it stands, there are compelling sequences and an overall concept that’s interesting, but the sluggish pacing and sometimes strained credibility undermines its flight.
(3 / 5)